Towel holder



Sept. 20,1927. 1,643,084

A. L. CVERHOLT TOWEL HOLDER Filed April l', 1922 5 Sheets-Sneep]E ITTOHNEYG Sept* 20 1927 A. L.. ovl-:RHOLT TOWEL HOLDER Filed April l, l 22 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 F/ci 5 ""9 56' irren/VEA:-

Sept' 20 1927' A. L. OVERHOLT TOWEL HOLDER Filed-Amir 1, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Z2 Ffa. 12

3o device;

Piuma sept. 20,1921.

UNITED STATI-:s

.ALBERT L. OVEBHULT, I' HINNEAPOLIS, IINNESOTA, ASBIGNOB, BY HESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO STEINEB SALES COMPANY, QF SALT LAKE (ZITY, UTAH, A. CORPORA- TION -01 UTAIH.

' Application illed April- 1,

^ i'i therein and adal ted to measure and to limit the delvery or eed of the clean portion of the toweling with eachv pull of the user thereon. More specifically thisy invention relates to means for locking the feed-limiting meclianism of such cabinets in feed-limiting position.

The'object therefore of this invention is to provide an improved towel holder.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the-annexed claims.v

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the objects of the invention, .but it is to be understood that the invention is not conined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying part. of this specification: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a towel cabinet showing the inventionas applied to a reel type of measuring drawings forming Figure -2 is a fragmentary ysimilar view with the reel in locked position; v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figurev 4 is a vertical sectional view through avportion of a cabinet showing the invention as applied to a cylinder type of measuring device; Fi ure 5 is a view similar 'to Figure 4 i showing the measuring cylinder in locked position Figure 6 is a vertical'sectional view of a cabinet showing a modified form of locking means applied to a cylinder type of measuring device' Figure 77 is a partial vertical sectional view of an apparatus similar to that shown in Fi ure 6; but with the locking meansin cylinierlocking position; Fi re 8 is a view in plan of the ap araf tus s own in Figures 6 and'7 but wit the portionof the casing broken away;

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 7 TDWEL HOLDER.

1922. Serial No. 548,648.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through a cabinet showing an, oscillatory tyge of measuring apparatus.

igure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 0 but -with the measuring bar in locked position;l

i Figure 12 isa cross-sectional view on th line12-12 of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a view in front elevation of the cabinet shown in Fi ures 10, 11 and 12.

Referring to the embo iment of the invention shown in Fi ures 1 to 3 inclusive, there is provided a ca inet somewhat similar'to that shown in the pending application ofthe inventor hereof, Serial Number 484,843, filed July 15, 1921. The cabinet includes a top 13 and a tilting member 14 having a compartment 15 within which a roll 16 of clean member 14 is seated. The towel com artment has a rear wall 21 over which the oose end of the towel is fed. The compartment is preferably of such dimension that its rear wall 21 is spaced from the rear wall 22 of the cabinet and an arcuate spring 23 is riv-A eted at its upper end to the rear wall of the cabinet and downwardly extends so that its middle'bowed portion is adapted yieldingly to hold the toweling web against the adjacent face of the rear wall 2l of the compartment. The towel web is thus placed under a frictional resistance to feeding.

Means are mounted' within the cabinet to grip the towel upon feeding movement thereof whereby the feed is limited. Such a gripping meansmay be provided by a reel comprisingl a hub 24 having a weight 25 and plates 26 and 27 arranged in cross relation on the hub and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted to have their ends contact with the loose end of the towel. The hub 24may convenientlyr be mounted upon any shaft rotably borne by opposed brackets 20 riveted to the opposite sides of the casing. vThe plate 27 is of greater-length than the plate 26 and normally holds the towel in the position shown in Figure l, the weight the reel against reversing movement under 25 being on the under side of the hub and tending to hold the plate 27 in its raised position. A bar 28 is mounted transversely of the cabinet below the reel and spaced therefrom so that only a longer arm of the plate 27 may contact' therewith upon revolution of the reel. As is shown in Figure 1, the web of toweling, upon installation of a roll, passes around the reel in engagement with its plate ends and then rearwardly passes about the bar 28. When pull is applied to the loose end of the towel, the reel will be revolved upon its axis against the gravitational tension of its weight 25. The

plate 26 will pass the bar stop Without contacting therewith, but the longer plate 27 will contact with the bar and clamp aportion of the towel between it and the stop as is shown in Figure 2. Further feeding of the towel is thereby iiedly prevented even though the pull be continued. When the loose end of the towel is released by the user, the hub weight 25 causes the reel to be reset or returned to its normal position with the plate 27 out of such feed-limiting position. The end of the plate 27 will slide on the towel without raising that portion of the towel which has been withdrawn from the cabinet. The amount of clean toweling delivered will depend upon the lineal distance traveled by the end of the longer arm of the plate 27 before it clamps the towel against the stop 28. The measure of* each towel feeding may be obviously predetermined by the construction'and dimensions of the parts.

In this improved cabinet, means are provided to retain the towel gripping means in its feed-limiting position. Such means are preferably releasable to permit the towel gripping device to reset itself automati cally, that is, to return to normal non-limiting position. Such retaining means is shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 as formed by a pivoted member normally projecting in the path o one of the reel plates. This member comprises a lever 29 pivotally mounted upon a stud 31 secured to the side wall 32 of the cabinet. The forward end of the lever 29 is provided with a pin 33 projecting through an elongated slot 34 formed in the side wall 32. The arm of the lever on the other side of its pivotal mounting is offset to provide a latching hook 35. Preferably the hooked end of the lever is of greater Weight than the handle portion thereof, so that the hook 35 normally is held in the position shown in Figure 1 wherein the hook remains in the path of the plate 26. Upon downward pull ot' the loose end of the towel, the reel will be moved to the position shown in Figure 2, whereat one end of the plate 26 has passed the hook and the short arm of the plate 27 has come to a stop with the hook descended over the rearward face thereof so as to hold influence of the hub weight 25. The towel gripping means is thus retained in locked ee -l1m1ting position. This locking means is releasable by subsequentdepression oi the pin 33 so that the reel may automatically reset itself. Upon such resetting or return to normal position, the apparatus is ready for another downward pull whereby a predetermined measure of clean toweling is delivered. Preferably the edge portion 36 of the plate 26 adjacent the latch is cut away as shown 1n Figure 3. The purpose of this is to avoid engagement of the plate 26 with the hook 35 either in its movement in the feeding direction or in the resetting direction.

In the diii'erent form of towel feeding mechanism shown in Figures Ll and 5, the same pivoted latch may be employed. Therein, instead of the reel structure, there is shown a cylinder 37 rotatably mounted in the side walls of the cabinet and having a similar weight 25 secured to the inner face of the cylinder. Preferably this cylinder is made of sheet metal so that a transverse flange 38 may be conveniently cut therefrom and radially outwardly projecting in order to serve a function similar to that of the lngermrin of the plate 27 in the reel device above mentioned. The weight 25 normally causes the cylinder 37 to assume the position shown in Figure 4, with the flange 38 on the forward upper side of the cylinder. The loose end of the towel, after passing the rounded edge 39 of the compartment l5 rests upon the edge of the flange 38 so that when a pull is exerted on the lower loose end of the towel, the cylinder 37 will-be rotated on its axis until the flange 38 is moved adjacent the bar 28 as shown in Figure 5. In such position, the flange 38 clamps the towel between the bar and the surface of the flange with the result that the harder the pull upon the toweling, the more firmly will the towel be gripped and it will not be possible to withdraw any more of the clean toweling from the cabinet at least until the loose end has been released, whereupon the weight 25 tends to reset or return the cylinder to its normal position. Then the user can obtain another length of toweling by downward pull upon the loose end of the towel. A retaining means similar to that shown in Figures l to 3 inclusive. may be employed in conjunction with this cylinder type to lock the cylinder in feed-limiting position. The lever 29 is similarly pivotally mounted and its hooked portion 35, as shown in Figure 4, normally rests against the cylinder periphery and, upon feeding movement of the cylinder. may drop into the slot 4l cut in the cylinder periphery. The slot Ll1 and the flange 38 are formed in a spaced relathus formed ma tion such that .when the .3S-listin ,Il

'vent reversed `releasing movement of the c linder, as is shown in `Figure 5. Upon` e` pressionL of the pin 33, the hook will 4be movedV from the locklng slot 41 andthe weight 25 will automatica-1l reset the cylinder 37 without raising t e. free end-of the toweling.

In theform of cabinet shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, there is provided a-casing having a top 13 back wall 22, base 42, and front wall 43. The front wall is preferably cut away to permit removal and lnse-rtion of the roll of clean toweling. The openmg be closed'by a door 44 secured to the ront wall 43 in any con-- venient manner. In this construction the towel end isfed from the roll u wardly over a. rod 45 and then downwar ly over a second rod 46. These rods `extend across the cabinet and are. terminall mounted in the side walls 47 and 48 o -the cabinet. The toweling, after passing over the rod 46, is passed around the end `of the s helf 49 upon which the towel roll rests. This shelf 49 is preferably metallic, is supported by the side walls of the casing and has its rear end downwardly turned upon itself toform a bearing surface 51 for the towel thereafter passing about the periphery of front wall 43 of the casing.

the cylinder 37 and thence downwardly through a. slot 52 cut in the base 42 of the cabinet. The rods 45 and 46 and .shelf edge place the toweling under some frictional resistance. This cylinder is similar tol that shown in Figure 4 while the bar 53', unlike the above-mentioned bar 28, is secured' to` the inner face of the front wall 43 of the cabinet. The cylinder flange 38 similarly clamps the feeding toweling against this bar 53 to limit the Afeed to a predetermined amount. In this embodiment of the invention the means to retain the lliange in gripping position is provided by a lever 54 having an upper terminal hook 55 adapted to engage and retain the llange 38 in the same manner. The lever 54 is preferably .L- shaped and is provided with a terminal button 56 upon its \arm which projects forwardly through `an elongated slot in the The latching. lever is mounted upon a pivot pin 57 carried by an upstanding bracket 58 riveted to the base 42 of the cabinet. Tension means, in the form of a compression spring 59, is provided yieldably to maintain the lever hook in the path of the flange 38 of the cylinder 37.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 10 to 12 inclusive, the cabinet is shown as having a top 13, base 42, rear wall 22 and side walls 47 and 48. The front wall 43, similarly to that of the preceding cabinet form is cut away to provide an openinfvfor replenishment of the towel roll. j. Such opening is closed b a similar door 44 having a latch 18 where the door may be released and downwardly turned upon its hinges 61 to open position. In this form the roll 16 of the clean toweling rests upon the base 42 of the cabinet and the' loose end of the towel is forwardly and upwardly pasted over a resistance bar 62 transversely extendin thence downwar y through the transverse slot 63 in the base 42. The feed-limiting mechanism is provided by an oscillatory member herein shown as U-shaped. The opposed forwardly extending legs 64 thereacross the cabinet andof. are terminallyoutwardly offset and pivotally mounted in apertured brackets 65v riveted tothe front wall 43. This U-shaped member also provides an integral transverse rod 66 preferably covered by a sleeve 67 preferab y of a; rubber composition. A rod is normally yieldably .held in the position shown in Figure 10, against the detent 68 provided byl an angled bracket secured to This the side wall 48, by means of the tension p springs 69 secured to the legs 64 and-to.

small brackets 71 secured to the top 13. Upon installation of a roll 16, the end of the toweling is passed over and to the rear of the rod 66` so that, upon exertion of a downward pull of 'the loose towel end, the rod will downwardly travel with the towelingI to the gripping position shown in Figure 11 whereat the towel is clamped by the sleevedI rod 66 against the base 42 adjacent the slot 63 and thereby held against further feeding until after release of the loose end. In this form, the means for retaining such gripping means in feed-limiting position is provided by a lever 72 pivotally mounted upon the pin 73 carried by a bracket 70 sel in the rearward osition shown where y the Y i offset arm 78 o the lever 72 is normally projected within the path of the sleeved rod. Upon downward travel of the sleeved `rodthe arm 78 may yieldably move to permit the rod to travel therepast. Upon passage ofV the rod, theA arm 78 tensionably returns to the locking position shown in Figures'll and 12 whereby the sleeved'rod is retained in feed-limiting position. A pull upon the button 75 swings the arm 78 from locking position and ermits the automatic resetting of the sleeve rod for further feed upon a pull upon the loose end of the towelclaim as my invention:

l. In combination with a towel holder and deliverer from which predetermined lengths of towel may be pulled without severing the same', of means operated by pulling out the towel to automatically grip and stop the delivery of the towel when the predetermined amount of towel has been pulled from the dcliverer and to automatically reset itself to repeat the operation when the towel is released, said gripping means including a stationary element and an element movable with the towel, and mechanism for automatically locking said gripping means in grippin position, the sald mechanism being provi ed with means for releasing the same when desired.

2. The combination, with a. towel cabin-et. means having a surface over which the loose end of the towel slides, and a rotating member having a` fiange for gripping the towel against said surface, the loose end of the towel resting on said rotating member and pull on said end increasing the pressure ot sa-idvange on the towel, and mechanism for automatically locking said -gripping flange in gripping position, the said mechanism being provided Wit-h means for releasing the same when desired.

3. A towel holder comprising means for holding a web of towel so that portions may be fed off by pulling on the towel in a certain direction, and means for automatically gripping the towel as it is fed in the same direction, said gripping means preventing the further feed thereof when a predetermined length of towel has been delivered until said gripping means is re-set, said gripping means including a stationary member and an oscillating member, substantially as described, and mechanism for automatically locking said grippinor means in gripping osition, the said mechanism bemg provi ed with means for releasing the same when desired.

4. A towel cabinet comprising a casing, a web of clean toweling supported therein, a feed controlled device including a stationary member and an oscillatable member effective to clamp the towel against the stationary member, said member being mounted for contact with the towelv web, and actuated b the engagement of the towel web therewiti for measuring a predetermined length of the towel and positively checking the feed when such length has been delivered, said oscillatable member being mounted to return to its normal position when the pull upon the towel ceases, and mechanism for auto matically locking said clamping means in gripping position, the said medhanism being provided with means for releasing the tame when desired.l

5. In combination with a towel cabinet,

means therein for holding a towel so it may be pulled from said means, a stationary element and swinging means which moves a distance proportional to the distance the towel is pulled, said swinging means being mounted to engage the towel between the same and the stationary element while the towel is being pulled from the cabinet and to automatically stop further delivery of the towel when a predetermined length ot tow-el has been delivered from the cabinet, and mechanism for automatically locking Said swinging means in gripping position, the said mechanism being provided vwith means for releasing the same when desired. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of March. 1922.

ALBERT L. ,OVERHOL'I 

